Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson

Between the eight books in Briggs's "Mercy Thompson" series and the three in the "Alpha and Omega" series that share a universe, one would think that the author had no stories left to tell about this world. Fortunately, that's not the case. "Seeing Eye" is a story about Moira, a white witch who helps a werewolf rescue his brother from a dark coven. "Roses in Winter" features Asil, the werewolf also known as "The Moor," who fears he will lose control of his wolf side but finds a gentleness in dealing with young werewolf Kara. And the story that introduced Anna and Charles, "Alpha and Omega," will be a treat for those who didn't read it when it was anthologized in the paperback On the Prowl. Although beloved series protagonist Mercy has a story here, too ( "Hollow," in which she helps a man who is seeing ghosts), the best tales take advantage of the depth of the author's cast, giving some excellent side characters a chance to shine. There are even two "outtakes"—brief scenes cut from recent novels Silver Bourne and Night Broken.